scorch

American  

[skawrch] / skɔrtʃ /

verb (used with object)

1. to affect the color, taste, etc., of by burning slightly.

   The collar of the shirt was yellow where the iron had scorched it.

   Synonyms:

   blister, char

2. to parch or shrivel with heat.

   The sun scorched the grass.

3. to criticize severely.

   Synonyms:

   condemn, excoriate

   Antonyms:

   laud

4. Machinery. burn.

5. to destroy (crops, towns, etc.) by or as if by fire in the path of an invading army's advance.

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verb (used without object)

1. to become scorched.

   Milk scorches easily.

2. Informal. to travel or drive at high speed.

   The car scorched along the highway.

noun

1. a superficial burn.

scorch British  

/ skɔːtʃ /

verb

1. to burn or become burnt, so as to affect the colour, taste, etc, or to cause or feel pain

2. to wither or parch or cause to wither from exposure to heat

3. informal (intr) to be very hot

   it is scorching outside

4. informal (tr) to criticize harshly

5. slang (intr) to drive or ride very fast

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noun

1. a slight burn

2. a mark caused by the application of too great heat

3. horticulture a mark or series of marks on fruit, vegetables, etc, caused by pests or insecticides

Related Words

See burn ¹.

Other Word Forms

• scorching adjective
• unscorched adjective
• well-scorched adjective

Etymology

Origin of scorch

1400–50; late Middle English scorchen, perhaps blend of scorcnen (< Scandinavian; compare Old Norse skorpna to shrivel) and torch ¹

Related Words

• bake
• blacken
• char
• melt
• parch
• sear